(LEAD) Lee receives letters of credence from new U.S. Amb. Steel, 3 other envoys

President Lee Jae Myung received letters of credence from new U.S. Ambassador Michelle Steel and three other foreign ambassadors on Wednesday, August 12. The ceremony took place at the official residence of the South Korean head of state. Vanda Maria Dias Stelzer Sequeira, Portugal's new ambassador to South Korea, as well as Ambassadors Jamal Abdullah Al Suwaidi of the United Arab Emirates, and Sean Hoy of Ireland, presented their letters of credence to Lee.

Lee expressed his warm welcome to Steel, accompanied by her husband, and posed for a photograph with her. In a subsequent conversation with Steel, Lee expressed his expectation that she would serve as a "trustworthy bridge" between the two countries, leveraging her deep understanding of Korean culture and society. According to Lee's spokesperson, Kang You-jung, this would facilitate the smooth resolution of various pending issues and further strengthen bilateral ties.

Steel pledged her commitment to advancing mutual understanding and cooperation between the two nations through open communication with the South Korean government and its people. Meanwhile, the newly appointed UAE ambassador emphasized his dedication to preparing for the UAE president's upcoming reciprocal visit to South Korea, following Lee's previous visit to the UAE. This visit, he noted, had helped strengthen bilateral relations.